Sauber reveals machine for 2016 Formula One season

With its new racing machine, Sauber is aiming to finish in the middle of the pack in the 2016 Formula One season. F1.COM

Formula One team Sauber will unveil today at the start of the second and final pre-season test in Barcelona, Spain its Ferrari-powered machine that describes as being more of an “evolution” compared to the 2015 machine.

“We want to clearly improve,” team boss Monisha Kaltenborn said. “Obviously, there’s a certain position we’d like to achieve.

“But, to start with, it’s important to become established in midfield. Only then are we going to focus on individual positions,” she added.

The Swiss team said the car is more of an “evolution” rather than revolution compared to last year, but insists that a “slightly changed philosophy” in terms of design – and in particular a revised approach on aerodynamics – has resulted in “significant” gains.

In addition, Sauber have been able to package the rear of their car more tightly – aided by Ferrari’s new gearbox – and to cut weight in several areas relative to last year.

“For the development of the Sauber C35-Ferrari, we slightly changed the philosophy of how we developed the car aerodynamically,” technical director Mark Smith explained. “It sounds little, but the impact on the development of the car is significant.”

Sauber is the last F1 team to unveil its 2016 car, although Toro Rosso has not yet revealed its livery for the coming season and might do so from the Barcelona pit lane on Wednesday morning.

Sauber finished eighth in the Constructor’s standing in the 2015 season with 36 points ahead of McLaren and Marussia (now Manor Racing).